Animals and wildlife products policy

Policy overview

You can sell a few types of animals and wildlife products, though there are some things you can't be list on eBay because of complex government regulations and various laws both in the US and internationally.

Check out the list of items below to find out what you can and can't sell on eBay. If an item is allowed or restricted, be sure to follow our guidelines, shipping restrictions, and applicable laws. You also need to check if selling or shipping these items requires a license, permit, or other paperwork.

Make sure your listings and products follow these guidelines. If they don't, they may be removed, and you may be subject to a range of other actions, including limits of your buying and selling privileges and suspension of your account.

What are the guidelines?

Though pets and most other live animals can't be listed, there are few types that you can sell. But before listing these items on eBay, sellers need to:

Listings and products for any part, pelt, or skin from an animal listed on CITES Appendix II cannot offer international shipping.

Not allowed

Any part, pelt, or skin from an endangered or threatened species or any species listed on CITES Appendix I. Examples include but are not limited to: elephants, rhinoceros and tigers.

The sale of pelts or items which include the fur from domesticated cats or dogs.

Most animal traps are okay to sell, although certain types are illegal. Here are some examples:

Allowed

Fish traps

Live traps

Mouse traps

Other humane traps

Not allowed

Bear traps (regardless of size)

eBay prohibits the sale of endangered plants globally. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulates the import, (re)export, sale or movement of endangered wild animals and plants. Appendices I, II and III to the Convention are lists of species afforded different levels or types of protection from over-exploitation (see How CITES works).

Allowed

Flora from non-endangered or threatened species may generally be listed on eBay if not in breach of local laws or eBay's Plants and seeds policy.

Artificially propagated plants.

Allowed in some situations

International trade in specimens of Appendix II species may be authorised if an export permit or re-export certificate is granted.

Hunting or fishing trips as long as sellers meet all of these requirements:

Sellers either need to provide the necessary licenses and permits for their buyers, or tell buyers to obtain them beforehand. You'll need to be clear about this information in your listing and product descriptions.

Follow local laws and regulations on hunting or fishing activities, including hunting in approved areas and weapon restrictions.

There can't be a guarantee of a successful hunt.

Not allowed

Canned hunts (usually involving fenced-in animals) aren’t allowed because they guarantee a successful hunt. We consider this a form of selling live animals, which is prohibited on eBay.

Though there a few exceptions, most ivory products can't be offered on eBay because of various international trade restrictions and treaties banning the sale of these items. You can find additional information about ivory laws below.

Allowed in some situations

Bone from non-ivory–producing animals (such as bison, buffalo, and oxen) as long as the species is clearly stated in the listing and product descriptions

Cultured, man-made, or vegetable ivory as long as the listing and product descriptions specify what the item is made of

Fossilized mammoth teeth or bone as long as they are listed in the Fossils category. Fossilized mammoth tusks are still prohibited.

Not allowed

Items made from ivory

Bone from animals that produce ivory, including elephants, walruses, and whales

Fossilized ivory or mammoth tusk

Allowed in some situations

Authentic Alaskan Native clothing or crafts made from marine mammals like sea otters or seals, although the items can't contain any ivory. Be sure to specify these details in your listing and product descriptions.

Not allowed

Items made from marine mammals regardless of when the product was made

Manufactured turtle or tortoise shell products from non-endangered or threatened species. Be sure to specify the species in your listing and product descriptions.

Tortoise shell–colored items (such as combs, eyewear, handbags, jewelry pocket knives, and shoes) made of plastic or another man-made material. Be sure to specify what the item is made of in your listing and product descriptions.

Bear products such as rugs, as well as bear parts—including those from polar bears—such as claws, gall bladders, or teeth. Alaskan Native clothing or crafts with anything from a bear also can't be listed.

Animal organs, or animal corpses that contain organs

Environment Canada: Environment Canada is responsible for Administering the following Wildlife Acts:

Canadian Wildlife Service : This agency is part of Environment Canada and is responsible for the protection and management of migratory birds and nationally important wildlife habitat, endangered species, research on nationally important wildlife issues, control of international trade in endangered species, and international treaties.

We do what we can to protect endangered species. And we're also following laws, government regulations, and international treaties on animals and wildlife. Be sure to review our guidelines and follow applicable laws before listing these items.

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